COLUMBUS, Ohio — Midway through the Blue Jackets’ 25-minute practice Monday, the curtains lifted on the east side of Nationwide Arena, allowing rays of sunshine to cast from the upper bowl to the ice surface.

Sunshine is a scarce commodity in winter months here, but if anybody needs a catharsis right now, it’s the Blue Jackets.

Since management dialed up the talent level with a series of bold moves near the NHL trade deadline — in the process, they have cranked up the expectations in Columbus, too — the Blue Jackets have lost three out of four games, including a weekend back-to-back home sweep to Edmonton and Winnipeg.

It’s knocked the Blue Jackets out of a playoff spot heading into Tuesday’s game in New Jersey, the beginning of a tough stretch of games, many within the Metropolitan Division.

There is mounting pressure in the dressing room, where the Blue Jackets — still adapting to their new look after acquiring four...